Abstract

In this paper we study genus $2$ curves whose Jacobians admit a
polarized $(4,4)$-isogeny to a product of elliptic curves. We consider
base fields of characteristic different from $2$ and $3$, which we do
not assume to be algebraically closed.
We obtain a full classification of all principally polarized abelian
surfaces that can arise from gluing two elliptic curves along their
$4$-torsion, and we derive the relation their absolute invariants
satisfy.
As an intermediate step, we give a general description of Richelot
isogenies between Jacobians of genus $2$ curves, where previously only
Richelot isogenies with kernels that are pointwise defined over the
base field were considered.
Our main tool is a Galois theoretic characterization of genus $2$
curves admitting multiple Richelot isogenies.